Burning methane in oxygen can produce three different carbon-containing products: soot, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Write three balanced equations for the reaction of methane gas with oxygen to produce these three products. In each case assume that water is the only product. Determine the standard enthalpies for the reaction in part (a). Why, when the oxygen supply is adequate, is CO2 the predominant carbon-containing product of the combustion of methane?
Thermochemistry
Thermochemistry can be considered as a branch of thermodynamics that deals with the connections between warmth, work, and various types of energy, formed because of different synthetic and actual cycles. Thermochemistry describes the energy changes that occur as a result of reactions or chemical changes in a substance.
Exergonic Reaction
The term exergonic is derived from the Greek word in which ‘ergon’ means work and exergonic means ‘work outside’. Exergonic reactions releases work energy. Exergonic reactions are different from exothermic reactions, the one that releases only heat energy during the course of the reaction. So, exothermic reaction is one type of exergonic reaction. Exergonic reaction releases work energy in different forms like heat, light or sound. For example, a glow stick releases light making that an exergonic reaction and not an exothermic reaction since no heat is released. Even endothermic reactions at very high temperature are exergonic.
- Burning methane in oxygen can produce three different carbon-containing products: soot, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
- Write three balanced equations for the reaction of methane gas with oxygen to produce these three products. In each case assume that water is the only product.
- Determine the standard enthalpies for the reaction in part (a).
- Why, when the oxygen supply is adequate, is CO2 the predominant carbon-containing product of the combustion of methane?
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